Apparatus for making confectionery.



- No. 649,569. Patented May l5, I900.

T. v. cox.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING GONFECTIONEBY.

(Application filed Oct. 20, 1899.)

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T. v. cox.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUNFECTIONERY.

(Application filed Oct. 20, 1899.

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APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUNFEG-TIONERY.

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No. 649,569. Patented May l5, I900.

T. V. COX.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING GONFECTIONERY;

(Application filed Oct. 20, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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THOMAS V. COX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONFECTIONERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,569, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed October 20, 1899. Serial No. 734,166- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS V. COX, a citizenof the United States, and aresident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Making Confectionery, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for makingconfectionery, and particularly to such apparatus designed for moldingsmall goods.

The principal object'of the invention is the production of an apparatusor machine which will combine the functions of a starch-machine, aprinter or mold-making apparatus, and a mold-filling device ordepositingmachine, and which combined apparatus shall be controlled inits cycle of operations by the depositing-machine and the printer.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a mold-fillingmachine or depositor that will readily fill at one discharge an entiretray or set of molds consisting of several rows having several molds ineach row.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts and mechanisms substantially as hereinafter fully set forth andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 3 represents on an enlarged scale a vertical sectionthrough the depositing-machine. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of aportion of the depositingmachine, the section in Fig. 5 being taken inthe plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan of thepumps employed'in the depositing-machine. Fig. 7 is a detail Viewshowing the controlling mechanism actuated by the printer. Fig. 8 is asimilar view show ingthe automatic controlling mechanism for thedepositor. Fig. 9 is a detail of a portion of the depositor.

In Figs. 1 and 2 that portion of the apparatus designed as thestarch-machine is indicated by the numerals l0, l1, and 12. That portionof the apparatus termed the printer is indicated at 13, while thedepositor is represented at the right of the printer and is indicated bythe numeral 14.

I lay no claim to the starch-machine nor to the printer individually,since they are not of my invention, nor to the broad idea of operatingthem in unison; but the control of the whole in series by the depositorand the printer is of my invention. In describing the apparatus only somuch of the starch-machine and printer will be specified as is necessaryto give a clear understanding of the combination and the cooperation ofthe depositor therewith whereby this control is effected.

In operating the starch-machine trays of starch containing confectionswhich have been molded therein are emptied into the hopper at 11. Theconfections are then separated from the starch and pass out at the endof the machine indicated by 10, while the starch is carried into theportion of the machine indicated by 12. Additional starch may be addedwhen necessary. In this portion of the machine the empty trays areplaced by the operator upon endless carrier-chains 15, where they arefilled with said starch as they progress intermittently through themachine. They make their exit from the machine, as indicated at 16,where a full tray is shown about to enter the printer. In the printerimpressions or molds are made in the starch, into which the mass issubsequently to be run or deposited. One of said trays so printed isindicated at 17, and is on its way into the depositor. Asit passesthrough the depositor the mass is run into the molds and the entire trayfilled by one discharge. Such tray is indicated at 18 as about to .issuefrom the depositor, whence it will be taken to the dryingroom. Thus thecombined apparatus performs a cycle of operation.

The power for driving the entire apparatus may be derived from anysuitable source and is preferably applied to the shaft 19, thence it istransmitted to the counter-shaft 20, from which by chain 21 the print-eris run, while from the same counter-shaft by means of chain 22 power istransmitted to the shaft 23 of the depositor. The endless chains 15traverse the three combined machines and are preferably provided withcleats or spurs tions and is drawn to allow the mass to flow to thepumps, which are filled thereby as their pistons are drawn back. Whenthe requisite amount of mass has entered the pumps, the gate 33 isclosed and a gate, as 34, at the lower ends of the peforations isopened. Then as the pistons of the pumps are advanced the mass in thepumps issues to the molds.

Obviously the pumps may be omitted and the mass allowed to run directlyto the molds. This would require that an even pressure be kept upon themass in the tank, either by maintaining a constant level of the mass orby increasing the pressure as the mass decreases. The pumps, however,are found to be the preferable means for insuring a perfectand uniformflow of the mass from the hopper to the molds.

The movement of the gates 33 and 34 is simultaneously eifected byjoining them to gether at the ends and arranging suitable tap'pets foroperating them as the pistons of the pumps are reciprocated. For thispurpose there is preferably mounted between the ends of the gatessuitable rollers, as 35, with which tappets, as 36 37, may engage. Thesetappets are mounted in guides at the sides of the machine and arereeiprocated with the pistons by being connected through the rods 38with the draw-head 39, to which all the pistons are connected, and whichis also guided in the same ways as are said tappets. The face of thesetappets that engages the rollers 35 is preferably provided with aroller, as shown. In Fig. 6 one tappet 36 is shown engaging roller 35 atone end of the gates, which have thereby been moved, so as to open thelower gate and close the upper one. Then when the pistons reach theother end of their stroke the other tappet 37 engages the oppositeroller 35 and reverses the position of the gates, so that the pumps mayagain fill as their pistons are returned. The tappets, as seen in Fig.6, are adjustable upon the rods 38, so as to regulatethe time ofopeningand closing the gates.

The operation of the depositor is intermittent in order that sufiicienttime be allowed for the action of the printer and to insure the properfilling of the trays with starch. This intermittent operation ispreferably ,controlled directly by the printer and may be effected inmany ways. In the drawings there is shown a clutch at 40 on the shaft23, the operating-lever ,for which is seen at 41 and is pivoted at 42.The lever normally holds the clutch out of engagement through the actionof a spring, as indicated at 43. The clutch is operated through thelever being forced outwardly at its upper end by a cam or projection 44on the sprocket-Wheel 44, fixed to the upper shaft of the printer. Theclutch is then maintained closed by means of the ring-cam 45. This camis rotated by a chain 46, driven from the shaft 25. rim of the cam is anotch from which a roller on the clutch-lever 41 is lifted when saidlever is actuated by the cam 44. The depositor operates until saidroller again falls into said notch. During this operation of thedepositor the trays have been advanced the width of one of them and oneof them has been filled while advancing. The filling was effected by theforward movement of the pistons, the draw-head connected thereto beingactuated through the pitman 47, driven from the shaft 25. As soon as atray is filled the procession of trays must stop and stand still whilethe pumps are refilling. This intermittent action of the trays is alsounder the direct control of the depositing-machine,

'and'for that purpose said machine is provided With suitable startingand stopping mechanism for the carrier-chains. One form of mechanism foreffecting this intermittent motion is illustrated, the details of whichare to be found in Figs. 3 and 9. Upon the shaft 25, which carries thesprockets 26 for the endless chains, are mounted the three-teethratchet-wheels 27, each of which is rigidly attached to the proximatesprocket-wheel 26, as by keying the latter upon the hub of the former,as seen in Fig. 9. Then upon the shaft 25 there are arms, as 28, towhich are pivoted the pawls 29, that engage the teeth of theratchet-wheels 27. Suitable means are provided for tripping these pawlsin a manner such that they will engage their respective ratchet-wheelsfor only the period necessary to advance the trays while one of them isfilling with the mass. One form of tripping device for this purpose isseen at 30, and consists of a flanged sector journaled upon the hub ofeach ratchet-wheel 27 and held against rotation by the rod 48, theflange being at such a distance from the center of shaft 25 as to engagethe tail of the pawl 29 and hold said pawl out of engagement with theratchet-wheel during a portion of the revolution of shaft 25. It is inthis interval that the pistons make their return movement and the traysstand still.

The posit-ion of the tripping-sectors may be changed to regulate thetime for tripping the pawls 29 and for holding them out of engagementwith the ratchet-wheels: For this purpose the rod 48 is provided with aturnbuckle, as shown. Turnbuckles or other suitable adjusting means arealso provided in the pitman 47 for regulating the stroke of the pistons,and thereby gaging the amount of m ass that shall flow for each tray.

In the As has been stated above, the trays are filled while in motion,and each discharge of mass from the gang of pumps is sufficient to fillan entire tray. The mass to operate thus must be in a fluidcondition-such, for instance, as a gum or licorice mass, which when hotflows freely. Each stream of the mass as it is discharged by itsrespective pump fills the several molds in the transverse line of thetray then passing under the discharge-port of that pump, and so withevery pump of the gang and every transverse line of molds in each tray.The movement of the tray and the discharge of the pumps are so timedthat the beginning of each stream strikes the first mold in eachtransverse line, and as the tray is advanced each stream is stretchedout, as it were, overits respective line and subdivides between theseveral pits or molds in that line. As the mass does not cling at all tothe starch, this subdivision takes place readily over the walls ofstarch between adjacent pits or molds.

By attaching the pumps to the hopper in the manner shown and describedit is possible to get them as close together as it is practicable or tomake the discharge-ports in the bottom of the hopper or as it is toconstruct the molds in a tray of starch. This close arrangement of pumpsprovides for molding a greater number of small confections in a giventime than has heretofore been done. This also, in connection with thefilling of each entire transverse row of molds in a tray by onedischarge of the pumps, multiplies the capacity of the depositor and ofthe combined apparatus to an extent never before approximated.

The combined apparatus may be run continuously, starch with or withoutthe confectionery previously molded therein being fed into the hopper at11 and empty trays being placed on the endless chains in the part 12 andthe tray containing the freshly-run confectionery being taken from theapparatus at the end of the depositor, the cycle of movements of thedepositor and the movements of the endless chains while the trays arefilling with starch, while the molds are formed therein, and while saidmolds are filling being automatically controlled and regulated by theprinter and depositor and their appurtenances.

The means for automatically stopping the printer and depositor afterfilling the molds of each tray consist of a clutch, as 49, upon theshaft 50,a lever 51 for operating the clutch, and a ring-cam 52 on theupper shaft of the printer cooperating with said lever. A roller uponthe upper end of the lever rests in the notch of this cam when theclutch is disconnected. To start the printer, the clutch must be thrownin, and this act throws the upper end of the lever 51 out onto the rimof the cam, where it will ride until the notch thereof comes aroundagain and admits the end of said lever, thereby disengaging the clutch.

Any suitable means may be employed to throw this leveras, for example,the treadle 53, which turns the rock-shaft 54, to the opposite end ofwhich is connected a rock-shaft 55, that is in turn linked to the lever51, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The depositor may be used independently of the rest of the apparatus,the printed trays or molds being prepared and fed to it; but it engagewith the ratchets 27 and the trays ad-' Vance, and as a printed traypasses under the hopper the pumps force the mass in streams down uponit, which streams divide themselves between the molds of each transverserow in the tray, as above specified. Just as the tray has reached itslimitnamely, the position at which the end of each stream of mass willfill the last mold in the respective transverse series-the cut-off isoperated by the tappet 37 and the mass ceases to flow. At this instantalso the pawls 29 are tripped by the flanged sector 30 and theprocession of trays ceases to move. The lever 41 then falls into thenotch of cam 45 and opens the clutch 40. The printer, however, continuesto run until another tray is printed, when the above cycle of movementsis repeated.

Obviously the cut-off could be operated for each longitudinal line ofmolds in a tray, and therefore each pump would drop just enough mass ata time to fill an individual mold. This, however, would be a very slowprocess and need only be employed in handling masses that can not bereduced to a liquid state-such, for instance, as cream masses.

Many changes in the details of operation and in the formation of partsand their arrangement and association may be made without departing fromthis invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus for molding confectionery,the combination of endless chains traversing a starch-machine whereinmold-trays carried by said chains are filled with starch, thencetraversing a printer wherein molds are formed in the starch of eachtray, thence traversing a depositor wherein the molds in the trays arefilled with mass, and means controlled by the printer for automaticallystopping the printer the depositor and the said chains after each trayof molds is filled.

2. In an apparatus foranolding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried by saidchains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer wherein moldsare formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing a depositorwherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, and meanscontrolled jointly by the printer and depositor for stopping the latterbetween the filling of successive trays to permit the printing of atray;

3. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried by saidchains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer wherein moldsare formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing a depositorwherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, and meanscontrolled jointly by the printer and depositor for permitting themovement of the moldtrays while the molds are filling.

4. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination ofendlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried bysaidchains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer whereinmolds are formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing adepositor wherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, and meanscontrolled jointly by the printer and depositor for holding the trays ofstarch still while one is being printed and while other trays arefilling within the starch-machine.

5. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried by saidchains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer whereinmoldsare formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing adepositor wherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, and meansfor preventing the movement of the trays while they are filling withstarch and while a tray of starch is being printed and means foreffecting the movement of the trays while the depositor is discharginginto the molds.

6. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays thence traversinga printer wherein molds are formed in the starch of each tray, thencetraversing a depositor wherein the molds in the trays are filled withmass, and means for stopping the chains with their trays while theprinter is making an impression in one of the trays and means for movingthe trays While the depositor is filling one of them.

7. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried by saidchains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer wherein moldsare formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing a depositorwherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, and meansconjointly controlled by the printer and depositor for effecting theprinting and depositing operations successively for the purposespecified.

8. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried by saidchains are filled with starch,

thence traversinga printer wherein molds are formed in the starch ofeach tray, thence traversing a depositor wherein the molds in the traysare filled with mass, and means in the depositor for effecting theintermittent movement of the endless chains for the purpose specified.

9. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination of endlesschains traversing a starch-machine wherein mold-trays carried by saidchains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer wherein moldsare formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing a depositorwherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, a cam on a shaft ofthe printer controlling the starting of the depositor, and the movementof said chains, and another cam on said shaft for stopping the printer.

10. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination ofendless chains traversing a starch-machine wherein moldtrays carried bysaid chains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer whereinmolds are formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing adepositor wherein the molds in the trays are filled with mass, aclutch-lever for applying power to the depositor, a cam on the printerfor operating said lever to close the clutch and a cam on the depositorfor holding said clutch closed for a limited period. t

11. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, the combination ofendless chains traversing a starch=machine wherein moldtrays carried bysaid chains are filled with starch, thence traversing a printer whereinmolds are formed in the starch of each tray, thence traversing adepositor wherein the molds in the tray are filled with mass,aclutchlever for applying power to the depositor, a cam on the printerfor operating said lever to close the clutch, a cam on the depositor forholding said clutch closed for a limited period and ratchet-and-pawlmechanism in the depositor for effecting the movement of the endlesschains during a portion of said period.

12. A confectionery-molding machine having one or more discharge-portsand adapted to automatically discharge one or more streams of mass upona set of molds, and having means for producing relatively-progressivemovement between said discharge-ports and said molds while the mass isflowing, whereby there is effected a division of each individual streambetween several successive pits or molds.

13. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, means for moving a set ofmolds comprising several lines of two or more molds each, and adepositor adapted to fill all the molds in the set while said set ismoving.

14. In an apparatus for molding confectionery wherein there is a set ofmolds comprising several lines of two or more molds each, a depositorprovided with dischargeports and means for producing a relative movementbetween said discharge-ports and said set of molds whereby all the moldsof the set will be filled at one discharge of the depositor.

15. In an apparatus for molding confectionery means for moving a set ofmolds and a depositor for filling the molds of said set while the latteris in motion.

16. In an apparatus for molding confectionery, means for moving a set ofmolds consisting of one or more rows of pits or molds and a depositorfor filling at one discharge and in succession the molds in each of saidone or more rows.

17. In a depositing-machine, the combination with verticaldischarge-ports, of means for moving mold-trays horizontally under saidports, and means for effecting a discharge of mass from said ports whilea tray is passing under them.

18. In a depositing machine, the combina tion with mass-discharge ports,of endless chains for moving mold-trays past said ports and means forefiecting a discharge of mass while each tray is in transit.

19. In a depositing machine the combination with mass-discharge ports,of means for m ovin g mold-trays past said ports, pumps for efiecting adischarge of mass from said ports sufficient to fill an entire tray atone discharge and means for efiecting the movement of the trays duringthe discharge and for stopping them at the end of the discharge, for thepurpose set forth.

20. In a depositing-machine, the combina= tion with mass-discharge portsof endless chains for moving mold-trays past said ports, means foreffecting an intermittent discharge from said ports, and the ratchetand-pawl mechanism for effecting the movement of said chains during thedischarge and the cessation of said movement between discharges.

21. In a depositing-machine, the combination with a mass-reservoirhaving a series of discharge-ports, of a gang of pumps eachcommunicating with a discharge -port and arranged parallel with oneanother exteriorly of said reservoir and to one side thereof, adraw-head extending transversely of the gang of pumps and connected toeach pump-piston, and means for controlling the flow of mass from thedischarge-ports.

22. In a confectionery-molding apparatus, the combination with a massreservoir having one or more perforations in its bottom through whichthe mass may flow, of means for moving under said reservoir, andtransversely to said perforations during the flow of mass therefrom, aset of molds comprising one or more lines of several molds each, andmeans for automatically starting and stopping the flow of mass into themolds and means for starting and stopping simultaneously therewith themovement of the set of molds.

23. In a confectionery-molding apparatus, the combination with amass-reservoir hav in g one or more perforations in its bottom, of

a pump for each perforation arranged exteriorly to the reservoir, across-head to which the piston of each pump is connected, gatescontrolling the entrance and exit of each pump and tappets actuated bysaid crosshead to reciprocate said gates at the ends of the throw ofeach piston.

24:. In a confectionery-molding machine, the combination with amass-reservoir having a row of discharge-ports leading therefrom,gatesat either end of said ports, a pump for each port connected theretobetween said gates, a cross-head to which all the pistons of said pumpsare connected, ways for guiding said cross-head, and tappets connectedto said cross-head and also guided in said ways, said tappets being solocated and adjusted as to reciprocate said gates in unison with thereciprocations of the pistons, for the purpose set forth.

25. In a confectionerymolding machine, the combination with amass-reservoir, of a series of pumps for discharging the mass therefromintermittently, endless chains for moving mold-trays past the exits ofsaid pumps, a power-driven shaft, ratchet mech-' anism connected theretofor intermittently moving said chains and trays, and a recipro catingconnection between said shaft and the pistons of said pumps, the ratchetmechanism and said reciprocating connection operating to move the traysand discharge the pumps at the same time.

26. In a confectionery-molding machine, the combination with apower-shaft, of chain wheels idle thereon, endless chains passing oversaid wheels for moving mold trays through the machine, ratchet-wheelssecured to the chain-wheels, operating pawls secured to said shaft fordriving said ratchet-wheels, and tripping devices for said pawls wherebythe ratchet-wheels and chains are allowed to move only intermittentlyfor the purpose set forth.

27. In a confectionerymold-filling machine, the combination withmold-trays having several series or lines of molds extending lengthwiseof the trays, of intermittently-operating mechanism for moving themold-trays their full breadth at each movement, a massrcservoir having aseries of outlets extending the entire length of a tray and under whichthe molds of each series pass, and means for automatically starting andstopping the flow of mass from said outlets simultaneously at thestarting and stopping of the trays.

28. In a confectionerymold -filling machine, the combination withendless chains for moving the molds, of pumps for filling the molds,driving mechanism for said pumps and ratchet mechanism forintermittently con necting and disconnecting the driving mechanism forsaid chains and said pump-driving mechanism, for the purpose set forth.

29. In an apparatus for making confection ery, the combination with aseries of intermittently-moving trays, of means for filling IIO eratingsaid lever to start the depositor, a r5 stop-lever, and a second camactuated by the mold-forming mechanism for operating the stop-lever tostop the action of thecombined apparatus. 7

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, in the 20' city of New York, countyof New York, and State of New York, this 18th day of October, A. D.1899.

THOMAS V. COX.

Witnesses:

C. L. BELoHER, D. II. DECKER.

